AAAR 36th Annual Conference October 16 - October 20, 2017 Raleigh Convention Center Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
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Source Apportionment of Fine Particulate (PM2.5) Air Pollution in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
HAIDER KHWAJA, Omar Aburizaiza, Azhar Siddique, Shedrack Nayebare, Jahanzeb Qurashi, King Abdulaziz University
Abstract Number: 127 Working Group: Urban Aerosols
Abstract Ambient air pollution in major cities of Saudi Arabia is a substantial environmental and health concern. A study was undertaken to assess the air quality of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia by the analysis of respirable particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), trace metals (Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, Sr, Cd, Sb, and Pb), and water-soluble ions (F-, Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, C2O42-, and NH42+). Sulfur and BC mass concentration ranged 0.99 - 7.39 µg/m3 and 0.70 - 3.09 µg/m3, respectively, while the PM2.5 mass concentration ranged 23 - 186 µg/m3. Maximum BC contribution to PM2.5 was 5.6%. Atmospheric PM2.5 concentrations were well above the 24 h WHO guideline of 25 µg/m3. Air Quality Index (AQI) indicates that there were 8% days of moderate air quality, 28% days of unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups, 55% days of unhealthy air quality, and 9% days of very unhealthy air quality during the study period. Sulfate SO42- dominated the identifiable components. The major contributors to PM2.5 were fossil-fuels combustion (36.0%); soil and crustal material (34.1%); sea-spray (15.4%); and vehicular emissions (14.5), according to the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF). This study highlights the importance of focusing control strategies not only on reducing PM concentration, but also on the reduction of toxic components of the PM, to most effectively protect human health and the environment.